PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Smithers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smithers
vs
Lopez

175 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Smithers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tim Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Steve Montenegro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smithers tries to bum rush Lopez with a series of wild strikes but Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lopez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smithers circles away.
A combination from Smithers does no damage.
Lopez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smithers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smithers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smithers throws a nice looking combination but Lopez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Smithers closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lopez wants to control but Smithers is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lopez is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Smithers is staying active.
Smithers prevents Lopez from improving his position.
Smithers wants to stand up but Lopez is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tim Lopez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Smithers moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Smithers throws a nice looking combination but Lopez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Lopez moves into the clinch.
Smithers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lopez has him pressed against the cage.

Lopez pulls guard effortlessly.
Lopez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lopez looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Tim Lopez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Smithers gets a takedown into half guard.
Lopez gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lopez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lopez is on top in guard.
Lopez trying to control but Smithers is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tim Lopez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A combination from Smithers does no damage.
Lopez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smithers wants to clinch

and Lopez counters by clinching up.
Lopez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smithers walks away with a smile on his face. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Smithers closes the distance and clinches.
Smithers can't break the clinch.
Smithers is trying to push Lopez away but Lopez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smithers is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smithers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lopez has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jimmy Smithers will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smithers attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
No joy there for Smithers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smithers misses with a double jab
and Lopez counters with a straight right hand.
Smithers throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lopez counters with a left to the body.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt.
Smithers throws a series of punches but Lopez avoids them all with ease.
Smithers lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Lopez moves out of range of the body kick.
Jimmy Smithers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smithers swings for the body but Lopez moves out of range.
Smithers throws a series of punches but Lopez avoids them all with ease.
Smithers tries a low kick but Lopez avoids it.
Smithers keeps the fight on the outside.
Smithers misses with a double jab
and Lopez counters with a series of strikes. Smithers will be more careful next time no doubt.
Smithers connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lopez momentarily.
Smithers just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lopez.
Smithers is not content to let Lopez control the position.

Lopez tries for a kimura but Smithers is defending well.
Lopez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smithers keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lopez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez wants to control but Smithers is keeping him busy.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tim Lopez wasn't active enough on the ground.

Smithers has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lopez is looking to break free of the clinch but Smithers has double underhooks.

Lopez drags the fight down to the ground.
Lopez is trying to control the position but Smithers postures up.
Smithers preventing the sweep.
Smithers has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jimmy Smithers.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smithers as he avoids it easily.
Smithers tries to clinch up.
Smithers throws a right and a left that Lopez avoids nicely.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smithers as he jumps to the side.
Jimmy Smithers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Lopez.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt.

Smithers darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smithers is thwarting Lopez's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tim Lopez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

An inside leg kick from Lopez misses.
Smithers with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smithers.

Smithers shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Smithers tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Lopez is pressing down on Smithers's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smithers is one step ahead there.
Smithers is looking to stand up but Lopez won't let him.

Jimmy Smithers has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Smithers misses with a wild body shot.
A nice combination there by Smithers.
Lopez checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lopez tries to score with a low kick but Smithers moves his leg out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smithers misses with a combination
and Smithers takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice takedown defense from Lopez. No joy for Smithers on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lopez tries to clinch but Smithers moves out of range.
Lopez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smithers.
Smithers stuffs the takedown attempt from Lopez. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.
Lopez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lopez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Decent striking displayed by Smithers there.
Smithers stuffs the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Lopez or perhaps it was just good defense by Smithers which made him look bad.
Jimmy Smithers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Lopez.
Smithers looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lopez walks into a stiff left hand from Smithers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez fails in his attempt to clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smithers.
Lopez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smithers off and has taken his back!
Smithers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lopez on the ground.
Lopez tries to get the hooks in deep but Smithers pushed the leg off.

Smithers is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lopez gets his way!
Smithers looking very determined here, making life difficult for Lopez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Smithers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smithers has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jimmy Smithers!